Girlie Wisdom

I was sent this via email today and thought it was too cute not to share.

 

1.      A friend of mine confused her Valium with her birth control pills… she has 14 kids but she doesn’t really care.

2.      One of life’s mysteries is how a 2 lb bag of chocolates can make a woman gain 5 lbs.

3.       My mind not only wanders, it sometimes leaves completely.

4.      The best way to forget your troubles is to wear tight shoes.

5.      The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don’t know what you are doing someone else does.

6.      The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then your body and your fat are really good friends.

7.      Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today.

8.      Sometimes I think I understand everything, and then I regain consciousness.

9.      I gave up jogging for my health when my thighs kept rubbing together and setting fire to my panties.

10.  Amazing!  You hang something in your closet for a while and it shrinks 2 sizes.

11.  Skinny people irritate me!  Especially when they say things like “You know sometimes I forget to eat!”  Now, I’ve forgotten my kid’s names, my mother’s maiden name, and my keys, but I have never forgotten to eat.  You have to be a special kind of stupid to forget to eat!

12.  The trouble with some women is that they get all excited about nothing… and then they marry him.

13.  I read this article that said the typical symptoms of stress are eating too much, impulse buying and driving too fast.  Are they kidding?  That’s my idea of a perfect day!

 

LIVE SIMPLY… LAUGH OFTEN… LOVE DEEPLY

Moments In Life

 There are moments in your life that you capture in picture.  Then, you sit there and wonder what your child was thinking when they did “that,” whatever that may be.  This picture would be one of those. 

My teensy baby in her cowboy boots.

Wearing her “bridges” (aka britches).

Running down the hill full force.

What is she thinking?!?!?!

She can’t even run around a corner without falling much less a hill!

I know what she’s thinking…

This hill looks fun.

My boots make me run fast.

Yay!!!! 

Run superfast!!!

HA HA HA!!!

How fast can we make mommy run???

That’s what she’s thinking as she makes me have a mini coronary.

But I smiled when I looked back at this picture.

I love my babies.

I'll Pray For You

Have you ever heard the song “I’ll Pray for You” by Jaron & The Long Road to Love?  You start listening and you think it’s another religious related country song.  You keep listening thinking it’s going to be something deep and meaningful…

“I haven’t been to church since I don’t remember when.  Things were going great until they fell apart again, so I listen to the preacher as he told me what to do.  He said you can’t go hating others who have done wrong to you.  Sometimes we get angry but we must not condemn.  Let the good Lord do his job and you just pray for them.”

THEN… the chorus…

“I pray your brakes go out running down a hill.  I pray a flower pot falls from a window sill and knocks you in the head like I’d like to.  I pray your birthday comes and nobody calls.  I pray your flying high when your engine stalls.  I pray all your dreams never come true.  Just know wherever you are, honey, I pray for you!”

At this point you’re like OMG and are a little stunned.  It continues back to a normal song…

 “I’m really glad I found my way to church.  Cause I’m already feeling better and I thank God for the worst.  Yeah, I’m gonna take the high road and do what the preacher told me to do.  You keep messing up and I’ll keep praying for you.”

“I pray a tire blows out at 110.  I pray you pass out drunk with your best friend and wake up with his and her tattoos.”

The music starts building up and up to the chorus yet again…

“I pray your brakes go out running down a hill.  I pray a flower pot falls from a window sill and knocks you in the head like I’d like to.  I pray your birthday comes and nobody calls.  I pray your flying high when your engine stalls.  I pray all your dreams never come true.  Just know wherever you are, near or far, in your house or in your car.  Wherever you are, honey, I pray for you!”

At this point I’m laughing uncontrollably and wishing for some Poise pads because there is a great threat that I may pee on myself I’m laughing so hard.

Then, at the end of the song you catch your breath and you think, “Yep, I know someone this song relates to!” 

Then, you feel guilty!

Malt O Meal

If you haven’t signed up for the Malt O Meal website, you need to.  I get emails quite frequently and they have some good coupons.  Right now there is a .75 coupon off BetterOats Oatmeal.   I’ve never tried this but I couldn’t imagine they’d be bad. 

:: Remember after you print to hit your “back” button three times to print another one

:: I have not found the Malt O Meal products at the FV HT, but they are a great price regularly so use these coupons at Wal-Mart instead

:: Walmart will take internet printable coupons if they are in color!  (This is per the one in FV and I’ve had no problems using the color ones there)

Vitamin Shoppe

The Vitamin Shoppe has some deals going on right now that can be paired up for a pretty good deal

:: Buy one get one 50% off Vitamin Shoppe brand items

:: $10 off $75 purchase using “5852” at check out

:: $20 off $125 purchase using “9060” at check out

:: Free shipping on orders of $99 or more

This expires on 09/24/10 at 11:59 pm EST

RDU Groupon for the day

Today’s Groupon is $22 for a twenty four count cookie gift box from Insomnia Cookies which is a $50 value.  Go here to check it out and get your groupon!

Expires November 30, 2011 so you have over a year to use this deal!

Side deal for today… $9 admission to the Beer Garden at the Hillsborough Street opening celebration on September 25^th. 

I used my first Groupon Friday evening.  I had bought two Groupons for $2 each for a $6 value at a local coffee shop.  I met my friend there Friday after work so we could do some studying and homework.  I got a huge mudslide mocha and a massive delicious looking blueberry muffin for $6.14, so I actually paid $2.14 for it.  I was VERY happy with that deal and really suggest that you cash in on some groupons if you find one that you would use. 

If you know you are going to be taking a trip somewhere sign up for that city’s groupons as well!  You never know what kind of deals you might score and save some serious cash for your trip.

Thank You

My best friend.  She completes my sentences.  She knows my thoughts.  She knows how I’m feeling just with one glance at me or by the sound of my voice.  Without her I would be lost.  She is my rock.  My sounding board.  Despite my flaws, my mistakes, ex-husbands (ha ha ha)… she loves me.  Time and miles cannot separate us or drive us apart.  She is in it for the long haul because she simply wants to be.

We have been through a lot together.  Between the two of us there have been three ex-husbands, two current husbands, three children have been born, three dogs have been lost, parents have divorced and gotten married, multiple moves to various houses and states, and wow… we’ve been through almost anything imaginable.  But nothing has driven us apart.  If anything they have brought us closer and I could not begin to imagine my life without her.  She knows just what I need and when.  She never says what I want to hear but what I need to hear, the truth.  She will tell me if something make me look fat.  She will rejoice with me when I look skinny!  She is the mirror that will tell me the truth.  She is no fun house mirror.

Together we can get through anything.  We can create sanity out of chaos.  We can create smiles from frowns and tears. 

I love you bestest friend in the whole wide world!

 

Custom Christmas Planner

“Life… Your Way” has a GREAT free eBook download on her website here. This is a Christmas… Your Way eBook that can help anyone become organized. I have perused it and think it is wonderful, especially for a moderately OCD freak like me! The book includes printable lists and such to have a great, budgeted, organized Christmas. I am going to print all of these out and try a Christmas “Life… You Way”’s way this year.

:: Address Book

:: Baking Planner

:: Budget Worksheet

:: Calendar

:: Cards Worksheet

:: Décor Inventory

:: Family Traditions

:: Gift Ideas

:: Gift List

:: Handmade Gifts

:: Master To Do List

:: Order Tracking

:: Shopping List

Note: If you check in all of her forms that she has online there is one for Black Friday Shopping List. This one will definitely be going in my Christmas Planner.

Keep an eye out for the Home Management Notebook… I have to check this out. I saw many references to this throughout this great eBook and think I might be headed there next to check it out. This looks like a GREAT way to keep track of the holidays and try not to let the commercialization of the holidays take over with overspending and making it all about presents instead of great memories and family.

RDU Groupon

The Groupon for the Raleigh area today is awesome!  $75 for a 50 minute Swedish massage and 50 minute facial at B Roman Spa in Cary.  I have been there before and they are absolutely fantastic.  Go here to get this awesome deal!!!  If you get the chance Kelly is an awesome massage person, don’t know what you call it!

HT Super Doubles

Go here for an awesome document (spreadsheet) that has all the deals matched up.  Remember work SMART NOT HARD when trying to save money with your coupon shopping.  Your time is worth a lot too!

Muellers Pasta Coupons

If you have not signed up for Mueller’s Pasta “club” (or whatever they call it) then you need to do that and print out the awesome coupon they have there.  Go here to sign up.  Then, you need to go to coupons or promotions and they have a coupon you can print for $2 off five Mueller’s products.  When you click on the icon to print your coupon your print box will pop up.  In here you can put how many of the coupon you want it to print. 

These often go on sale 2/$1 (two for $1 or .50 ea) so if you bought five for $2.50 and used the $2 MQ you would only be paying .50 for five boxes, or .10 each!  The expiration date on mine is 10/16/10.  I’m not sure if that’s because it’s one month from the date I printed or if it’s really on 10/16/10 which it might be since that’s a Saturday.  Either way, this should get you a great deal on pasta.  Does pasta ever expire??

Sums up our life

This picture pretty much sums up our life.
Three and a half pairs of shoes.

Good Byes

 I had to put my dog to sleep this morning.

He was not able to go on.  He was somewhere between 14-16 years old.  I rescued him nine years ago.  Saved his life.  They had thought about putting him to sleep then because his health was so poor, but luckily that didn’t happen.  He had a great life after that. 

He passed away this morning at 11:20 a.m.  This was the hardest decision I’ve ever been forced to make.  But to keep him around any longer would have been selfish as he was suffering.  The vet said he had a liver disorder probably for the past year.  He couldn’t eat. 

He was my first “child.”  It was a hard morning. 

My bestest friend in the whole wide world sent me the following poem…

 

If it should be, that I grow frail and weak

And pain should keep me from my sleep

Then you must do what must be done

For this, the last battle, can’t be won

You will be sad, I understand

Don’t let your grief then stay your hand

For this day, more than the rest

Your love and friendship stand the test

We’ve had so many happy years

What is to come can hold no fears

You’d not want me to suffer, so

When the time comes, please let me go

Take me where my needs they’ll tend only

Stay with me to the end

And hold me firm and speak to me

Until my eyes no longer see

I know in time you will see

It is a kindness you do to me

Although my tail its last has waved

From pain and suffering I’ve been saved

Don’t grieve it should be you

Who decides this thing to do

We’ve been so close, we two, these years

Don’t let your heart hold any tears

Smile, for we walked together

For a little while

 

I will thank my bestest more tomorrow… she’s awesome

 

Thank you!

 

Packing

I'm packing. Getting ready for our trip to Chicago. I am so excited to have a few days of just hubs and I, no kids. Last year we went to South Beach Miami for a long weekend without kids. It felt odd. Really odd. No diaper bags. No fighting over dinner. No nap times. Wait. I missed that part! I like a good nap. Every time we left the hotel I felt like something was missing. Then realized it was 100 lbs of two kids and a diaper bag. It was a good time that I'm looking forward to repeating in a new city this year. Watch out Chicago! Mama's loose!!!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

We are off and running on a long weekend without the kids starting tomorrow morning.  Tonight we will be shopping for some new clothes to accompany us on this journey (and to keep us covered to prevent us from getting arrested for walking around nude).  You know how you have that one pair of jeans that you love.  They are your favorites and your go to stand by for any occasion.  Well, hubs and I are the same way.  We both have one pair of jeans that are suitable to wear in public.  We probably will have a hard time finding some that fit right, but that’s important!  Keep in mind that we will be doing a LOT of walking and on our feet all day long so I have to keep in mind that I will be wearing sneakers or my Sperry’s so the jeans can’t be long.  I think the last good fitting pair of jeans I bought were Candie’s at Kohl’s.  They are great.  I bought two pairs that day because I liked them so much and didn’t realize that one pair of them are long and I am about as short as they come!  I would love to take my holey jeans that I could wear all day and night (for three consecutive days) but people probably don’t want to see my rear end and we might get refused entrance at some restaurants/bars I’m sure.  They’re that crude!  Not to mention they are so thread bare in other areas that they are liable to fall off at any given moment if a thread feels like giving way.  I haven’t been shopping at a mall in so long that I don’t know what to do.  I’m a Target and Kohl’s type of girl but most likely with it being a Wednesday night they shouldn’t be busy.  So, what to do, what to do?

Go shopping.

Hope the girls behave themselves.

If not, buy them Chick Fil A.

If they get unruly after that, bribe with cookies and ice cream.

Then the sugar hype commences and they will drive us nuts.

On the way home they will crash from their sugar high and fall asleep.

Hopefully this is not the way it will play out, but I know my girls all too well and know this will happen.

If all else fails, Grandma is coming to help!

 

RDU Groupon

$35 for an oil change, oil filter change, two wiper blades, and a state emissions inspection at Auto Pro to Call (Chapel Hill) or CarFix (Garner).  This is an $85 value.  Had I not just gotten all that done a few weeks ago I would be jumping all over this deal.  Head on over here to get in on this deal.

Jimmy Johns

I emailed Jimmy Johns yesterday as I have a bad habit of ordering from them when I cannot make it out to lunch.  This is what I submitted via their website… “I order from Jimmy Johns AT LEAST once a week, normally more. How come there are no coupons for JJ's? I have looked everywhere and cannot find any and as I'm having to cut how much I spend on eating out each week it would be great if I could keep ordering as much as I do. The food is delicious and fresh, and freakishly fast!”

THIS is the response I got… “Thank you for taking the time to write.  We do not believe in discounting our food.  Therefore, we do not currently offer coupons. Maybe in the future.”

That response just hit me WRONG.  Why be so short, curt and in my eyes, rude.  I wrote a nice email complimenting their food and service and get such a mean response.  So, this is what I wrote them back…

I will not order Jimmy John’s again.  What a crappy response to write.  Yes, I know very mature of me to write that but I really don’t know how else to put it.  Yes, I’m aware that the statements in the below email response are true but it doesn’t have to sound like JJ’s is above rewarding customers for their repeat business.  In the last year I have spent more than $300 at Jimmy Johns and that’s only looking at my online orders and my bank statements.  This does not include the many times I’ve ordered over the phone and paid cash.

The lack of a customer retention program, unwillingness to reward customer loyalty and the horribly worded response below is the reason I am requesting the following and will not do business with Jimmy Johns again.

Delete my online Jimmy John’s account associated with (insert work email here).

Delete my credit card number.

Remove me from the Subculture that I signed up for yesterday.

Once this is complete please notify me via email so I have confirmation that my requests have been addressed.

Word of mouth from an unhappy consumer can reach further than the mouth of a happy consumer.  Please remember this in your future responses to customer inquiries.

Kind Regards

Me

Today's Groupon Deal

Don’t forget check out today’s Groupon deal for RDU area.   I’m really thinking about doing both of them.  The Nutty Guys because my hubs loves that kind of stuff and the Shutterfly deal for Christmas. 

P&G Everyday Coupon Book

Don’t forget to save your receipts with P&G products on them.  If you purchase $50 worth of P&G products between 08/20/10 and 12/31/10 (must be post marked by 01/14/10) and you can mail in for a GREAT coupon book.  Remember, this is PRE COUPON PRICES!!  Circle the P&G items on your receipt and go here to get the mail in form for the coupon booklet.  Also on their site they have a list of all of their brands to help you out.  Did you know that P&G is the manufacturer of Dolce & Gabbana??!

The book contains over $110 in coupons!  Below is a listing of the coupons that are in the book and on their website it says there are three of each.    

 

$1.00 – Always product

$1 – Zest bar/body wash or Safeguard bar/liquid handsoap

.50 – any Bounce

$1 – Bounty 6 roll or larger

$1 – Cascade

$1 – Charmin mega roll

$1 – Covergirl

.50 – Dawn

$1 – Downy

$1 – Duracell

$1 – Era

$1 – Gain or FE

$1 – Gain dishwashing

$1 – Head & Shoulders buy one shampoo get $1 off conditioner

$1 – Clairol

$1 – Herbal Essence or Aussie

$1 – Iams

$1 – Luvs Diapers

$1 – Metamucil

$1 – Olay PCC or body lotion

$1 – Olay facial moisturizer

$1 – Old Spice Deodorant

$1 – Old Spice Body Wash

$1 – Crest toothpaste or liquid gel

$1 – Crest mouthwash

$1 – Oral B manual toothbrush

$1 – Pampers

$1 – Pantene, buy one shampoo get $1 off conditioner

$1 – Pepto Bismol

$1 – two Pringles

$1 – Secret

.50 – any Swiffer Refill

$3 – Swiffer WetJet

$1 – Duster/Sweeper

$1 – Tampax (20 ct or higher)

$1 – Tide

$1 – Venus Embrace

 

FINE PRINT:  offer limited to US residents only.  Limit one submission per name, address, or envelope.  Use of multiple addresses or PO boxes to obtain additional refunds is fraud and may result in prosecution.  Multiple submissions will not be acknowledged or returned.  This form must accompany your request.  Reproduction, alteration, sale, trade, or purchase of this form or proof of purchase is prohibited.  Proof of purchase must be obtained from product purchased by you.  No request from groups, clubs, or organizations will be honored.  Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery.  Form Cash Redemption Value 1/100 of 1 cent.

 

Target Trip

I had a GREAT Target trip today during lunch.  I spent $21.95 and saved $26.34 and walked out with a $5.00 gift card in hand.  All in all a GREAT trip.  Check it out on Cutting Corners from a Circle.

All Grown Up

Our youngest is looking all grown up these days. 

 

Pretty sure her baby looks are gone. 

 

In need of Twinkies to cope with the depression this is causing. 

 

Send quick before I perish!

Deals of the Day

Do you want a free 2011 planning calendar?  Go here to request yours.  They start shipping in December.

 

Check out the SWEET Fisher Price Trio car that you can order here for free!  Shipping is free too!  This could make a cute addition to a little one’s Christmas stash. (*Note the website is taking FOREVER to load.  Probably because of the amount of traffic they are getting!*  I was in the middle of doing mine and it kicked me off, so good luck!)

 

Free Kashi samples

 

$5 in Kraft Coupons

 

Coupons.com has reset their coupons for this month so make sure to print out the ones you want

 

Free sample of Shout Color Catcher

 

Register a gift card at My Starbucks Rewards and they will send you a coupon for a free Artisan breakfast sandwich (can we say YUM!)

 

$10 off a $30 purchase at Mimi’s Café (they have GREAT food and are even more prepared for small children than any other restaurant we have ever been to.  I highly recommend them for a family night!)

 

Pampers Gift to Grow 20 points… HangOn2Summer20.  You have to register an account first!

 

Free cinnamon oat waffle at Waffle House

 

 

Getting Better

I am getting better at getting up in the mornings and trying to get out of the house on time.  I lay out Aly’s clothes each night so they are ready in the morning.  Granted, it takes less than a minute to do, but any time saved the better off we all are.  For Brynn, since she will get at Grandma’s all week I packed her a bag Friday night with clothes for the entire week in it (plus a few extra since we are potty training).  She’s goes to Grandma’s house every morning in her jammies.  This is much easier on me and grandma because she doesn’t have to worry about her making a mess out of her breakfast. 

The past two mornings I have been up and out of bed before 6:30.  I think this is some kind of record for me!  I should reward myself but you know what… just not rushing is treat enough.  I am keeping up with homework and even bringing my reading to work so I can do that during breaks and on my lunches.  Makes things much easier on me in the evenings.

The only downfall to being at work earlier is that I run into so much more traffic.  I will leave five minutes earlier tomorrow and see if that makes a difference at all.  Only time will tell! 

I was so excited about Fall coming this month, but with our meteorologist telling us our high today is 99 I have a hard time believing the calendar.  Thank you global warming!

The Heels that Almost Ended Me

So… I take a class during lunch three days a week because I have an awesome boss who lets me.  I keep forgetting that I need to pack some flats in my car because the school has the WORST parking lots ever in this world.  It is paved, but its old style and has gravel all in it… loose and packed.  I forget again to take something other than heels with me or even to wear to work today.  Because of course I do everything but the one thing that will save me from injury!

I’m walking out of class and cursing the parking lot so I walk in the median.  The median isn’t much better since its mulch and you know it gets in your shoe, under your foot and is just gross.  I find my car and go to step off the curb in front of my car and step down onto a piece of gravel and…

My ankle goes out

I fall straight to my knees

My forearm lands on the top of my car

I’m hurt

I stand up and go around my car, unlock it, get in (turn the AC on) and peruse the damage

I have skinned the top of my foot.  Not major but painful enough to sting

I check my pants because I was scared I’d ripped them or there would be blood on them and I had to go back to work

No blood or rips but there are imprints of the gravel in my knee and in my pants (even an hour later they still remain)

Shew!!  The damage is not that bad and I can handle it.

Hmmm… my forearm is burning.  Why would my forearm be burning?

That’s because my black car has been sitting in the hot blazing sun and burned my forearm when it landed on top of it.

So there I am with my sore ankle, skinned up foot, battered and bruised knee and burned forearm.

Who in the world burns their forearm by falling in a parking lot???

Evidently I do!

The gravel assisted with my descent

Hopefully now I will remember to put flats in my car for school.

(perfect imperfection)

You said WHAT?!? Really!!

 As I am at my desk perusing my daughter’s preschool calendar for September I see the most glorious words I haven’t seen in a while and am welcoming back with WIDE OPEN arms!  “First Day of Fall”

I look at those few simple words and they have completely brightened my day.  We have had horrible heat this summer with bouts of horrible rain (but much needed).  Our tomatoes have done horribly this year.  Even my lilies did poorly.  My garden and flower beds are a mess and I can’t wait for the cooler, open window weather to make its grand entrance. 

I’m hoping for a fast whirlwind entrance that leaves us all in jeans, sweaters and comfy chenille socks!

How I miss wearing all of my comfy jeans, favorite sweaters and my plush around the house socks that I love so much! 

Fall, where are you?  We have missed you terribly and will not care a bit if you make an early entrance this year.  We welcome you with wide open arms and are ready for you!  I can’t wait to turn on the gas logs and curl up with the family and watch a movie snuggled up in blankets on the couch while drinking hot chocolate and hot mulled wine (for the parents, not the kids). 

Hurry Back!!!

J

Yet Another Year Goes By...

Sorry for the lag in blogging.  My birthday was this weekend so I took the time to spend with my family… in laws and outlaws alike! 

Another year has flown by.

I am getting older.

Do I feel it??? 

Yes and no, depends on the day that you ask! 

If you had asked me the other day when the wonderful cashier at the gas station tells me they didn’t think I was “THAT” old, I would have told you yes, I feel extremely old.

Birthdays are a time of reflection, it just kind of happens.  You think about the past year, what you accomplished, what changed, what didn’t change, what you wish you had done, what you were happy you did, what you want to do in the next coming year.  Normally people look at New Year’s as a time to make resolutions.  I don’t.  I normally find myself thinking about this about the time my birthday comes around.  The biggest thing I always look at is… am I where I thought I’d be by “this” age?  Most times the answer is no, but you know what… I wouldn’t change it for the world!

I love where I’m at… my family… the people I surround myself with… our home and just everything that really and truly matters I am in love with my life.  We are making memories.

We’re always busy, on the go or have something going on but it’s things we like and enjoy.  At the end of the day there is nothing better than climbing into bed and sighing at how thankful you are for your life.

I love life!

PS… my only resolution is to take more pictures (and print them out or make picture books)

Picture of the Week

This is the picture my daughter drew on her little doodle thing and told me... "Look mommy... IT'S YOU!!!" She was so excited when she did this and I couldn't help but smile AND take a picture so I could always remember that moment.

Sigh....

I am Concussed

Seriously… I’m pretty sure I have a concussion.  I’m confused and dazed a bit, but that’s not really any different from any other time! 

I was packing the girls stuff for this weekend and I reach up to the top of Aly’s closet and grab a small suitcase and next thing I know I am on my knees in pain… sobbing.  On top of the suitcase in her closet was the thing that goes in the corner of a pack n play that plays music and vibrates the pack n play to soothe teensy babies and that is what smacked me dead center on my left temple.  It scratched the side of my head and now I am the proud owner of a bluish goose egg that is pretty well hidden with makeup and hair today!

As Brynn is crawling over me and asking “Mommy O-tay?” I realize how I must look crumpled on the floor of Aly’s closet clutching a suitcase for dear life.  Thankfully hubs wasn’t there to see me and call the looney bin to tell them I was on my way.

One of THOSE Days

This is the sign that is on my office door today. Do you ever have one of those days? It's one of those days where nothing you do is right, even if it was right yesterday it is utterly and completely wrong today. Somehow making this sign and putting it on our door has made me feel a bit better and even made me smile for a second, but I'm sure that feeling will eventually go away. To make myself better I put in my headphones and am listening to the American classic "Take This Job and Shove It"!!! I'm feeling better already!!!

Groupon

Check out Groupon for some great deals in your area each day. I even signed up for a different city that we will be visiting next month.

Chill Play List

Here is the play list that I have on my work computer for “chill” music.  You will probably laugh, but that’s OK.  Keep in mind that I rarely, OK I never, update this music.  I really need to though, so that is on my to do list for this evening.  Regardless, here is my play list…

Anything But Mine – Kenny Chesney

Bartender – don’t know who sings but is a hip hoppish/top 40 type of music

Be Here to Love Me – Norah Jones

Bleeding – Leona Lewis

Brass Bed – Josh Gracin

Can I Have This Dance – old country

Can’t Let you Go – Fabulous

Desperately – George Strait

Diamonds – Los Lonely Boys

Far Away – Nickleback

Gives You Hell – All American Rejects

Heart Ache – Trick Pony

Hope – Mister Mydas and Shaggy

I Go Back – Kenny Chesney

I just got Started Lovin You – James Otto

The Little Things – Colbie Caillat

I Love You – Faith Hill

I’m Real – J Lo and Ja Rule

It Would be You – Country

Keep’n It Real – Shaggy

Last Man Committed – Eric Heatherly

Let it Burn – Usher

Need You Now – Lady Antebellum

The Secrets that We Keep – Sarah Evans

What am I to You – Norah Jones

 

Do you have any songs that you are embarrassed to admit that you listen to?  I have quite a few!  Hmmm… I have quite a bit of Emine (Lose it, shake that, and who knows what else).  Not to mention some good ole DMX and why do good girls like bad guys (lyrics dirty so don’t listen to with kids in the room).  I also have some old Paula Abdul and opposites attract, Color me Badd in I wanna sex you up and who knows what else!  But the worst would be from the Cyrus family… Achey Breaky Heart and Party in the USA!  LOL

What’s your worst?

Picture of the Week

I am going to start posting a favorite picture each week to give you a little insight to the ones that hold my heart and why. This week I am posting a picture of Aly at my uncle's wedding last weekend.

Getting Ready for the Madness

This weekend was supposed to be one where I did nothing but prepared for the madness that will consume our house until the end of the year. I have a huge to do list that I have been working on all week and do you know how much I got done off of it today... one thing. That's it. Just one!

Why? Because I decided that today I would take this last weekend of "unmadness" and pseudo normalcy and just enjoy it. My house stays clean for the most part... all dishes were already done, no laundry piled up, bathrooms were cleaned this week and Brynn's sheets have now been washed three times this week (don't ask and no, she wasn't sick). Aly's were cleaned this week as well, and so were ours.

I have done some laundry... Brynn's sheets once again, a load of lights, and now our sheets are in the wash again. Yes, I already cleaned them this week but there is NOTHING better than the wonderful smell of clean sheets. I am really looking forward to taking a shower before bed, shaving my legs and climbing into the clean sheets. Such simple things make me happy.

Tomorrow I do have some things that I need to do and I will get them done this weekend, but for right now I am enjoying doing nothing. This will be the last time for quite a while that I will have this little luxury.

Yes, tomorrow will be busy as I have put off doing today what I can do tomorrow, but you know what... today is wonderful.

(I'm writing this as my two year old is yelling "Share Bears" at me with all her little might. Yes, she wants to watch Care Bears and normally does this on my computer via Net Flix online, so bye for now as I have to find Care Bears for the little one.)

Homemade Laundry Soap!!!

I did it. I made my own laundry soap and I think this is going to be a main stay in our house. Check it all out here where you will find the process and my review on it.

Bugs in my Throat

My four year old just comes crying to me completely uncontrollably. I ask her what's wrong and she's crying with her hand over her mouth and trying to tell me and I understand nothing of what she says. I'm thinking her throat is hurting because she's been eating some crackers and maybe scratched her throat.
NOPE. I have never been more wrong.
She proceeds to tell me that a bug flew down her throat and hurt her throat. It's one of the small fruit flies that seem to come around when you've been keeping bananas for too long. She says that it scratched her throat and it hurts so bad and she can't stand it. I tell her that they didn't scratch her throat and she will be fine.
She then starts wretching and acting like she's going to vomit. I tell her she better not vomit on my floor and go to the bathroom if she's going to get sick. She drinks some water and not two minutes later she's fine.

Song for Today

This is one of those smokey blues songs that you can sing over and over in the car and never get tired of it.  Yes, the lyrics are a little “blue” but you don’t have to be heart sick and lonesome to listen to this song and enjoy it.

 

What Am I To You?

By Norah Jones

 

What am I to you

Tell me darling true

To me you are the sea

Vast as you can be

 And deepest shade of blue

When you’re feeling low

To whom else do you go 

See I’d cry if you hurt

I’d give you my last shirt

Cause I love you so

Now if my sky should fall

Would you even call

I’ve opened up my heart

I never want to part

I’m giving you the ball

I look in your eyes

I can feel butterflies

I will love you when you’re blue

But tell me darling true

What am I to you?

Now if my sky should fall

Would you even call

I’ve opened up my heart

I never want to part

Giving you the ball

I look in your eyes

I can feel the butterflies

Would you find a love in me

Would you carve me in a tree

Don’t fill my heart with lies

I will love you when you’re blue

Tell me darling true

What am I to you?

 

Frugal at Heart

Yes, I am a frugal person.  I get a kick out of seeing how much I can get for free or cheap pairing coupons with sales, rewards back and stuff like that.  I am also a Harris Teeter fanatic (yes I am weird).  This week they have super double coupons and I take full advantage of these weeks.  Look to see my trip here.  Out of pocket I spent $22.65 and I saved $92.98.  All in all it should have cost me $115.63, so I saved 80% on my groceries so far this week!  I’m such a nerd, but I embrace my inner nerd and make it work for our family.

 

Anyone need toothpaste?

I have fallen off the deep end.

I am really taking the plunge head first into frugality.

Pretty sure I possibly bumped my head when I jumped in head first.

I am going to make my own laundry detergent.

Yep, you heard me right… I  A M  G O I N G  T O  M A K E  M Y  O W N  L A U N D R Y  D E T E R G E N T

I spent almost two hours on the phone with a long lost friend from my childhood last night.  She wanted to learn how to do the coupon shopping thing.  I told her what our weekly budget was and it included everything including laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, toiletries, etc. and she proceeded to tell me that she makes her own laundry detergent and it works just as well, if not better, than store bought.  She has two small children and says that it works great on their clothes at removing stains, etc.  And you can even make it smell like whatever you want.  I asked if she had an HE washer, because that’s what we have and you have to buy special detergent and she said YES that it works in their HE washer without any problems.  The best part is that it only takes about 15-20 minutes and she only has to do this ONCE A YEAR!  I don’t even want to tell you the cost because I almost fell off my chair last night when she told me!

So, this weekend you can find me in the kitchen making my own laundry detergent if you need me.

FYI… this detergent is so gentle I’m sure that you could use this on baby’s laundry.

I have found two different recipes and am going to try each of them… I will let you know the results!

Song for the Day

I really like this song and it has a line or two in it that I absolutely love

Diamonds by Los Lonely Boys

 

I’m looking at a rainbow way out across them hills.  And my baby’s love is with me and I know that it’s for real.  I ain’t got no diamonds.  Girl you know I ain’t got no gold.  I ain’t never been a rich man but girl I got you here to hold.  We dance out in the moonlit sky but it pales beside her light.  She puts her arms around me and I tell her it’s alright.  I ain’t got no diamonds.  Girl you know I ain’t got no gold.  I ain’t never been a rich man but girl I got you here to hold.  When you find what really matters, in that moment you will see far beyond the selfish wonder… love is simple, love is free!  I ain’t got no diamonds.  Girl you know I ain’t got no gold.  I ain’t never been a rich man but girl I got you here to hold.  I ain’t got no diamonds. I ain’t got no gold, I ain’t got no gold.  But I have ya!

What a Weekend

This weekend was wonderful!! I will post details later but Saturday I spent $61.74 on groceries and saved $113.00. Not to mention one of my girlfriends and I met for breakfast and went shopping together without kids or husbands. Also, went to a wonderful wedding that afternoon/evening. Come sunday we all slept in, even the girls slept past 9:00!!!! Had a wondeful home cooked breakfast, hubs finished the wainscotting and trim in the masterbath, I cleaned the house, did laundry and coupons. Then had dinner with/at the in law's house. A GREAT weekend. Not to mention we are planning our trip (sans kids) for next month!!! Yay!!!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Ulta Deal

If you got two papers last week there were coupons for Buy one Herbal Essence or Aussie product and get a styler (same brands) for free.  There was also a $3.50 off $10 purchase for Ulta in their weekly ad.  Herbal Essence and Aussie products are on sale for $2.50 each.

Scenario

Buy 4 Herbal Essence and/or Aussie products (two do not have to be a styler unless you get a coupon Nazi at the checkout counter but they will not beep if you buy all shampoo and conditioner) = $10

Use the $3.50 coupon first = $10 - 3.50 = $6.50

Then, use the 2 coupons for BOGO = $6.50 -5.00 (2.50 x 2) = $1.50

After tax the total is $1.62

I did this Wednesday at lunch and it did work!  This will work today and tomorrow.  The ad resets on Sunday so you must do before then.  See, good deals are not only to be had at the drug stores, so keep your eyes open and keep all coupons you come across because you never know when they will come in handy.

Side note:  Ulta does have a reward program.  These can add up quickly if you shop there regularly or buy some of your products there.  I use their makeup and by the time I spend $50 I normally have enough points to get $9 off my next purchase.  This works even better if I wait to get something in the mail that will multiply my points on a purchase (sometimes get 3x point coupons on my next purchase).

 

Frugal

For those that don’t know, I am a very frugal minded person.  I like to see our accounts climb and for the money to grow.  A few years ago we had a very rough time that we got through and luckily didn’t have to go to anyone needing money, but it was an experience that definitely opened our eyes to the unexpected and needing to plan for it.  This year we are saving for the unexpected and living like we have no money.  Well, not really, but we control what we can control.

We have a budget for how much we spend on groceries, eating out, and weekly allowances for each of us.  I just made a tiny splurge to help keep us on our budget and be able to go out and enjoy more things.  I bought a Citi Pass book for our local area.  This book has TONS of coupons that you can use towards restaurants, golf, movies, Great Wolf Lodge, kids activities (museums, zoos, pottery places, bead stores, jump house places, etc.) and I think this book will be a great addition to keep us within our budgets for having fun!  Most of them are buy one get one free and who doesn’t like having a fabulous meal for half the price.  This will allow us to have more “date” nights to spend at nice places and be able to live even better within our means.  I am really thinking about getting some of these for Christmas presents!  There is even a $5 off $50 coupon for a local grocery store that doubles coupons! 

That’s one more way of living frugally without cutting out things you like or want to do!

Three pairs of sandals for $3.98!!!

Go to JCPenny’s website and right now all shoes ship for free.  Then you have a code you can use “TEN2YOU” to get $10 off any order of $10 or more.  Your order has to come to at least $10.00, not $9.99 to use the code.  I got a pair of cute sandals for $9.99 and two pairs of flip flops for $3.99… total $13.98 - $10 = $3.98 for all three pairs.  The flip flops I actually got are solid white and solid black, not those pictured, but are the same style.  I think that is an awesome deal!

$3 Toy Deal

I played the Play-Doh Instant Win Game.  I used code KDN185UV9JN34 (copy it and then paste in).  If you don’t win the game, no big deal, you get to print out a coupon for $5 off the Play Doh Ice Cream Shoppe set.  Target has these on sale for $8 this week, making them only $3!!!!  I played and didn’t win and printed out the coupon, I hit my “back” button three times and printed it out again.  I am going to get two today at lunch and will save for Christmas.  Yes, I’m already thinking about Christmas but if you have children, nieces (or nephews) and other “littles” to buy for this would make a great inexpensive gift. 

 

Trying to look out so you can save some moolah like I do!!  LOL  Pass this one to other parents, grandparents, etc. that could use this deal!

Death by Cheesecake: Update

I received an email from The Cheesecake Factory in response to my contacting them…

“Thank you for contacting The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated. 

I am happy to hear that you are okay but I am very sorry that you were not able to finish your cheesecake.  As you already know, we are not able to include all of the ingredients in the description of the cheesecake.  The next time you are in please inform our staff of your allergy so we can help you with a choice that you can enjoy.

Please look for a little something in the mail from me.  Have a wonderful day!”

As most who know me already know… I was not writing them to get anything free.  I wrote to them just to let them know how wonderful their cheesecake was and even though it was making me “sick” I still contemplated risking that for their cheesecake.  I am on the phone day in and day out with customers that do nothing but gripe, so I thought I would send a smile via email for someone in their customer service department.  I hope they smiled anyways!

Another Example

The girls and I packed up and went to the beach this weekend since hubs was working.  He got off almost the entire Saturday.  Perfect Imperfection!  We only went because he wouldn’t be home and got to have a lovely time at the beach but perfectly imperfect because he ended up with almost the whole day off so missed spending time with him.  He worked all last week, horribly long, tiring hours training.  Since they had training all last week he got to get some much needed rest and relaxed the whole day watching TV and napping… perfect imperfection!

Savory Site Saturday

I am going to try and blog once a week about a website that I love.  It could be another blogger, cooking/recipe site, money saving, store, healthy living (aka diet), and just any site that I love or read on a regular basis or one that has helped me tremendously in the past. 

This week we will be checking out The Pioneer Woman.  She writes very eloquently and the best of all is that her reads are funny and always tickle me.  She writes about real life… As she puts it “Green Acres meets Harlequin Romance”!!!  That is the quote about her book, but I think it pertains to her entire website.

She is great.

Real.

Funny.

A mom.

(with funny stories)

And she has GREAT photos posted on her website that SHE took.  She even has a section on using your digital camera and how she’s learned, what things are, etc.  Mostly Greek to me as I use a point and click digital camera, but really, her pictures are awesome and NEVER short of spectacularly amazing!!!

Give her a read.

You won’t regret it.

You will keep coming back for more!

Driving Til the Map Turns Blue

After I get off work I am headed east til the map turns blue and I cannot wait.  My mother and father in law (aka MIL & FIL) should almost be there already with my two little ladies.  My sister in law (aka SIL) is headed down with her two children as well.  The oldest three grandchildren are all within 13 months of each other!!  Makes it nice they are so close in age so they like playing with each other.  They all love babying Brynn, which she loves (when she’s not screaming at them).  Since the girls are already there I get to drive down by myself with the windows down, wind in my hair, radio wide open and me singing at the top of my lungs… good times!

Anyways… I am headed down once the clock strikes 5 and I cannot wait to spend the weekend basking in the sun, lying in the sand, digging my toes in deep until the sand turns cool, treasure hunting for shells, sting rays, crabs, and sea cicadas.  Those are the little grayish white things that come in with the waves and then dig in the sand… did you know there are some places where people actually eat those things???  Ick!   Wonderful times and able to make great memories with my girls which has been my top priority this summer.

I’m sure by the time Sunday rolls around and I roll out of bed and step out on our balcony off our room with my cup of coffee in hand I will be dreading the drive home.  Whenever I get down there I dread coming home.  We are lucky though because we can go whenever we want.  My in laws bought a beach house in May and so far we have been burning up the miles between our house and the beach house!

I hope everyone has a great time this weekend and that you enjoy your children and spend some time with family.  Life is not guaranteed for a second so don’t waste it.  Unfortunately a guy at my work has experienced this first hand this year, twice.  He lost his wife about two months ago and it was not foreseen by any stretch of the imagination.  Last week he lost his mom.  Nothing is promised beyond this very second… so cherish everyone and everything around you.

Retail Therapy

Since I had a crappy day yesterday (ended up leaving work early too) I didn’t really feel like coming into work today, but I did. To make myself feel better I did a bit of retail therapy at Target during lunch. They have so much clothes on clearance right now that I justified it to myself with that fact. I got a really cute tunic style top for $18. Yes, still a bit high on the price side for me because I’m cheap, but is great for work. I also got two cute tank tops for $7 (each)!! I now have three of these tank tops in different colors/styles. I love them because they have adjustable shoulder straps, like a bra, for those of us that are short!
I’m back at work and I feel a bit better but now I’m longing to be at Target perusing the clearance aisles!

Cheesecake Incident

Well, no cheesecake for me.  We went up there at lunch and got our cheesecake to go.  I got a key lime mango cheesecake.  It looked great.  It was beautiful and delicious looking.  It was bigger than the normal cheesecake I was going to get so I figured I would eat half for lunch and then be done.  Probably about the same calories or less that way.  Anyways… I get back to the office take one bite and it’s awesome.  I’m drooling all over myself and just mmmm… good!  Then, I felt something in my mouth that just didn’t go with the creamy consistency of cheesecake.  OMG it was coconut!  I’m allergic to coconut!!!  I ask around and nobody has Benadryl.  I go to the CEO’s assistant and ask if she has some and tell her why.  She’s calling around, calls HR and is told we’re not allowed to stock it as a company but to keep calling around.  Nobody has any Benadryl.  I was just going to drive to CVS and get some but HR lady says she can’t let me drive because I would be a liability if my throat closes up and wreck my car.  They decide to call 911 to come give me an epi shot.  I tell them I don’t want to do that because I don’t want to pay for it.  They told me I don’t have to pay anything unless I go with them.  The CEO’s assistant is picking up the phone to call 911 and someone literally comes running in with some Benadryl.  I take the Benadryl and am following it up with some coffee to help speed it up.  So, I will be falling asleep here in about 30 minutes but at least I can breathe and am within my calorie range for the day!

Now I am cheesecake-less… WAAAAHHH!!!!  Oh well… just another day in the life of perfect imperfection! Ha ha ha!